Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
390410019429Power window and/or door lock inoperative. *tt03/14/2006
07100107/10/2001623665Information concerning 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 corvettes with body control module concerns on vehicles using aftermarket electronic column lock bypass system. nlm10/29/2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION
04060403906/01/200410012154Revised ignition relay diagnosis. *tt02/15/2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - MODULE
02060400502/01/2002629487Subject regarding revised diagnostic trouble code p1221 servic emanual udpate. *tt04/02/2002

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
09/10/2006450001
 2001 corvette. 2 years ago (1)engine check light always on (2)traction control warning lights on (3)abs warning lights on (4)low fuel warning light goes on if under 1/2 tank and gauge drops to zero fuel (5)driver side headlight will not open up (6)lights do not work on heating ,a/c directional flow these complaints from what i have read on blog sites from hundreds of other corvette owners are very commonplace problem lies in the fact that when my warning lights are lit up i have no antilock brakes working on my car nor do i have traction control. this is extremely dangerous. some time the lights work sometimes they go off well i am in motion. this can cause a dangerous situation if i am just hitting throttle and this occurs causing me to lose control and risking a collision. these are powerful cars even when driven in a safe manner. i own an automatic transmission and it does not take much throttle for the engine to gear down and accelerate. i stop at gen. motors dealer frequently hoping for a campaign. to correct this problem. the same story always is that it is a defective computer board and that i am looking at approx $4000.00 dollars to repair. reading blog site it is the same. some would say that if one can afford a corvette then this should not be an issue. i say it is a serious safety issue and should not have to pay out of pocket. am only an employee at a daycare and saved for years to purchase this car. the other common complaint is the fuel gauge but understand that with computer board replaced this will eliminate problem. pop up headlight cost to repair $300.00. *tr
03/01/200670000206/04/2001
 2001 corvette convertible, the abs/traction control system has failed twice, once at 40,000 miles then after having it replaced it failed again at approximately 75,000 miles. it is the abs module and control valve, the code is c1214, which states set current-solenoid relay coil open. it's failure causes complete and total loss of the abs safety features as well as the safety features of the traction control lost. these failures can lead to loss of traction while turning or on slippery surface as well loss of control of vehicle during emergency braking or attempting to stop quickly or on wet or icy surfaces. this could lead to accidents resulting in serious injury or even death. the first defective abs module and valve were replaced and i no longer have them, however the current defective abs module and valve are still in the car and available. *nm
10/12/200552000211/10/2000
 Same as complaint #'s 757075 & 10124963 active handling system malfunction. while moving at speed (approx 75 mph) in a straight line on even pavement, the active handling system activates the left side brakes hard for about two seconds. this causes momentary loss of control of the vehicle. in my case the vehicle departed the right lane and forced me across the left lane onto the shoulder. no codes. additional detail: i originally took the vehicle in for service because i was getting a fault in the ahs, service active handling. the ahs would automatically disable itself at the time of the code warning. this happened once per driving cycle while moving at speed (exactly the same as above, only it didn't try to wreck the car). the dealer referenced a gm service bulletin and said the software for the ahs needed to be upgraded. after the upgrade, under the same circumstances it now activates the ahs and causes the vehicle to veer wildly. the dealer can find nothing wrong. this is a big safety issue. the ahs should not be able to cause loss of control. *nm
02/10/2005407/01/2001
 After starting the vehicle and driving off the engines stalled. after the vehicle was repaired, the vehicle was driven for about 600 miles and it locked up again. the vehicle was taken back to the dealership. *ak when the vehicle was parked, a warning chime would sound. when starting the vehicle, it would only move several feet then the fuel will shut off, causing the vehicle to stall in traffic. the vehicle hadn't been able to be repaired. other problems: the lock clyinder was not reading when the key was removed, then when the key was inserted, the vehicle read theft attempt and lock out, a column lock message appeared on the dash and there was a rattle in the drivers doors due to door speration. *sc
10/15/200430000310/10/2000
 2001 chevrolet corvette with multiple electrical problems which have which have led to multiple trips to the dealer for repairs. most recently, the steering wheel locks while the car is on. this occured three times. it was repaired twice by the dealer and currently the car is at the dealer again. the service manager said that there is nothing wrong with the car. i'm afraid to drive this car. if the steering wheel locks when i'm on the freeway someone could get injured. the steering wheel locking problem has been recalled on the vehicle. gm customer care will not address the problem. what should i do? they cannot fix the car nor will they replace it.*ak
01/28/200429716810/17/2000
 Loses power suddenly on freeway without warning. engine dies quickly during driving without warning. rydell chevrolet (818)933-3000 unable to detect or fix problem after several visits. problem persists.*ak
10/03/20032000304/09/2000
 I have a 2001 corvette. since i've owned it, several problems have occurred. the first being the drivers door lock. the car dealer replaced the module twice and then it switch itself. then the electronic system defaulted where i couldn't start the car (twice). had to have it towed back to the dealership. then driving one day the fuel gauge went from showing half a tank all the way to zero. all the fuel warning lights came on. took it into service and they reprogrammed the computer. the very next day i started the car and the steering wheel lock engaged after the car first started, (i haven't had it in gear yet). this problem concerned me and i stated that to the service manager who immediately stated it couldn't happen if i was driving the car. (really?) they repaired that. then the gas gauge did it again. took it in again and they replaced several items in the fuel system. now, one tank of gas later, the gauge doesn't read properly. the low level light came on and it only took 10 gallons. took it back into the dealer and they don't know how to fix it so they're talking with gm engineers. also there were several other 2001 corvette's in for the identical problem. now (10/3/03) i have a rental car and don't have any idea when they will be able to fix mine. *la
06/18/20031003/14/2003
 We just purchased a 2001 corvette coupe 2 months ago. i have had a problem when the signal lights (both) just quit operating--no lights, no clicking, nothing, in an instant. after a period of time, they will work again. have taken the fuse out and reinstalled it in case it might have been loose. seemed to work for about 2 weeks without a problem, then suddenly stopped working again. there is no logical sequence of events when this happens. gm dealership put it on the computer but could not detect anything. they indicated that the signals would have to be 'not working' when i brought it in for them to tell what was happening. this is a potentially dangerous situation, especially during highway driving. *nlm
01/18/20021
 Sensor on driver's door has been replaced numerous times, intermittently drivers door will not respond to remote option.*ak customer stated that oil leaked from engine area. the driver door rattles while driving and was hard to close. the right door glass has wind noise due to door glass failure. brakes failed to grab. there was a noise while driving due to left seat belt retractor failure. consumer states cd charger would not eject cd cartridge, the steering tilt was inopartive, the door rattled, the seats would not hold programming. *yh
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION
04/01/2001
 2001 corvette z06- intermittent problem-engine turns over when starting but fails to continue running when starter disengaged
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - ANTI-THEFT CONTROLLER
08/24/20037667410/29/2001
 Service column lock - car starts and runs but completely shuts down once the clutch is realeased. car has 8,374 miles on it and has been to chevrolet for this problem 4 times in the last 600 miles. each time i was told it was fixed except for the last time where the service tech couldn't tell me what they did for the car but stated it seems to be working now. that was 200 miles ago - now back at chevrolet. *ak
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - SWITCH
09/12/200345168102/17/2003
 2001 chevrolet corvette convertible, parked at golf course, started car to leave and realized the steering wheel was locked. the dash display read service steering column. the car sat at the golf course a couple days while i checked with mechanics, friends, internet and nhtsa (my son works for you). i discovered this is a frequent problem with corvettes from 1997 and up (c5 body style). i tried all the tricks i was told by several people including shaking the steering wheel hard left to right with the key out of the ignition and in the ignition, plus using the key instead of the remote control to unlock the door. nothing worked. i had it towed to a chevrolet dealer. they had it several days and commented they could not unlock it with their special tool. they fixed it in the end by installing gm part number 26050960 which is the steering wheel lock assembly/theft deterrent actuator. the repair bill of $392 ($171 for the part) stated the steering wheel lock had an open circuit causing it not to release. they jump started vehicle & verified concern, removed and replaced the steering lock assembly/theft deterrent actuator. this car has 45000 miles on it, is a manual transmission. *la
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - FRONT UNDERHOOD
12/14/2001
 While traveling on highway smelled an odor. it was smoke coming from underneath vehicle.*ak
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
06/10/200558000308/01/2003
 Active handling system malfunctions at highway speeds. when traveling on dry smooth highways, in a straight line, the active handling system will activate and randomly actuate individual brake calipers. when this occurs, the driver information system will flash active handling. in every case, this causes momentary, unintended changes in direction and speed of the automobile. the event does not register any codes in the obd ii. the problem can only be defeated by turning off the active handling system. the problem can be induced by making minute adjustments to the steering wheel while traveling in a straight line. this problem has been look at by the dealer several times, and they have been unable to diagnose or repair the problem. this is similar to complaint 757075.
09/30/20014000309/08/2001
 On three separate occasions i have had the fuel gauge read from over a halve of a tank to immediately reading nothing. when i took it to the dealer, the service department stated to me well it's not a perfect science you know and proceeded to do nothing to investigate it or repair it. i have also been having problems with the lights in the instrument panel. the mph light is blinking on and off and just the other day the light info bar went completely off and i couldn't read my computer info. i have addressed several times with the dealer about the severe front end vibration when the vehicle reaches speeds of 70mph, but the dealer won't look into it because they say they can;t drive it that fast. what! if the law allows me to go that fast, why can't they? the drives seat belt constantly locks on me not allowing me to look out my side or rear window. in the convertible you really have to stretch to see out that small window in the top, the seat belt does not allow me to and i fight to get it to release. the last thing i want to do it take my seat belt off when i'm driving! please look into these problems. thank you. *cb
12/31/200110008/01/2000
 Active handling system malfunction - on three separate occasions during a recent road trip, i experienced a momentary loss of directional control while driving my vehicle at highway speeds. on each occasion, i was fortunate to quickly regain control of the vehicle after it involuntarily veered to the left and crossed into the adjacent lane of travel. shortly thereafter, a dash board message appeared : service active handling. upon arrival at my destination, i had my vehicle serviced at an out of town cheverolet dealer. after consulting with general motors, the dealer examined the vehicle but was unable to provide a fix for the problem. i asked the dealer if they were aware of any similar problems with other corvettes - they responded - no. acceleration disruption issue - this has been a problem since day one and continuess through today. the probloem is most apparent when i attempt to merge into traffic upon entering a freeway. excessive heat - as with the acceleration issue , this problem has existed since buying my vehicle in august of 2000. i plan to have warranty service with respect to the acceleration and heat issues sometime in the very near future.*ak